Pan-Biome Pharmaceuticals Inc has outlined the case for its compounds' potential ability to tackle the ageing process and slow the onset of diseases.
The pre-clinical company is researching whether its small molecule, natural product-based compounds can extend human health span and longevity.
A recent study was carried out on the C. elegans worm, which shares many of core metabolic pathways with humans, which showed that Pan-Biome compounds significantly increased worm lifespans by up to 30%, highlighted the biopharma.
"Pan-Biome compounds exhibit wide ranging effects on immune and inflammatory responses, targeting cytokine pathways such as IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-17E, and IL-31, which are over-expressed in many important diseases," it added.
READ: Pan-Biome Pharmaceuticals says oral drug effective in controlling gut microbiota in study of inflammatory bowel disease
CEO of Pan-Biome Gordon Eberwein said in the statement: "It’s less about how long we live and more about how long our health lasts.
"We feel that our compounds can tackle the aging process through the targeting of pathways and mechanisms that can slow aging and the onset of age-related diseases, allowing us to live healthier lives longer."
The company's compounds also exhibit broad antibacterial activities against oral pathogens P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum, bacteria linked to the development of a number of age-related conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and respiratory disease, the company noted.
And in a mouse model study run earlier this year, Pan-Biome’s orally administered compound produced a strong effect in modulating the gut microbiome, significantly affecting several important bacteria such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Firmicutes.
Emerging studies suggest that targeting age-related changes in gut microbiota composition can improve health and lifespan, said the company.
"Our compounds strongly induce expression of NRF2, a major antioxidant cytoprotective signalling pathway that regulates a battery of over 350 cellular stress defence genes with roles in stress resistance, and with a potential direct link to longevity and health span. Loss of NRF2 activation could allow oxidative stress to go unmitigated and drive the aging process," the firm also told investors.
The company also noted a 2019 note from Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) Merrill Lynch, which suggested that “human longevity could be the greatest opportunity and disruptor of our time,” predicting a market opportunity that could reach US$610 billion by 2025.
Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com